Citation

De-Giorgio F, Grassi VM, Vetrugno G, Rossi R, Fucci N, d'Aloja E, Pascali VL. Forensic Sci. Int. 2012; 221(1-3): e1-3.

Affiliation

Institute of Legal Medicine, Catholic University, Medical School, Rome, Italy.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.forsciint.2012.01.012

PMID

22721935

Abstract

Methane is a suffocating gas, and "methane deaths" are largely the result of suffocation by gas-air displacement after accidental or deliberate exposure. Neither methane gas nor other suffocating gases are a common means of homicide, with the potential exception of the use of gas in chemical weapons or gas chambers. Here, we report the case of a 53-year-old woman who was killed by her husband with methane gas. The man had given his wife a dose of Lorazepam before setting up a hose that conveyed methane from the kitchen into the apartment's bedroom. The man subsequently faked his own suicide, which was later discovered.

Language: en